Originally published in 2017 as a Lumen5 tutorial and substantially updated in September 2026. The enthusiastic original community discussion remains below as part of the article’s history.
You do not have to start from a blank screen every time you want to make a video. One of the easiest ways for bloggers to create video consistently is to begin with something they have already written.
A useful blog post already contains the raw material: a topic, structure, examples, photographs, key points and usually a clear reader problem. Video repurposing turns that existing work into another way for people to discover it.
Choose the Right Article to Repurpose
Not every post needs a video. Start with content that has a strong visual or instructional element, already attracts readers, answers a frequently asked question or supports something important to your business.
How-to articles, recipes, demonstrations, before-and-after projects, lists, comparisons, garden tours, product tutorials and frequently asked questions often translate naturally.
Do Not Simply Read the Blog Post
A video is not a moving copy of an article. Pull out the strongest idea and rebuild it for the format.
A long article might become one short video explaining a single tip, several short clips, a longer tutorial, or a combination of those.
Create a Simple Video Outline
Before opening an editing tool, write a short outline:
- Hook: Why should someone keep watching?
- Problem: What question or need are you addressing?
- Main points: What are the few things the viewer actually needs?
- Proof or demonstration: Can you show the process, result or example?
- Next step: What should the viewer do after watching?
This keeps the video focused even when software offers dozens of templates and effects.
Use the Assets You Already Own
Look through the article for photographs, charts, screenshots or examples you created yourself. You may also have unused video clips related to the topic.
Original footage and images can make repurposed content feel like your work rather than a generic slideshow.
AI and Automated Video Tools Can Help—but Review the Result
Tools can now summarize text, suggest scenes, generate captions, resize video and help assemble clips. That can save time, but automation does not know your experience or audience as well as you do.
Check factual accuracy, wording, image choices, pronunciation, captions and any generated claims before publishing. Replace generic material with your own examples whenever that improves the piece.
Think About the Destination Before You Edit
A horizontal YouTube tutorial, vertical Reel or Short, embedded website video and Pinterest-friendly clip may need different pacing, dimensions and text placement.
You do not necessarily need four entirely different productions. Create a strong master idea and adapt it intentionally rather than blindly posting the identical file everywhere.
Make It Understandable Without Sound
Captions improve accessibility and also help viewers who watch with audio off. Review automatic captions rather than assuming they are correct.
Keep important on-screen text readable and away from interface elements that may cover it on social platforms.
Use Music and Stock Media Carefully
“Available inside the editor” does not always mean you have identical usage rights on every platform, in every advertisement or forever. Understand the license for music, stock footage and generated assets you use.
Platform music libraries can also have different rules for personal, creator and commercial accounts.
Give the Video a Job
Decide what the video should accomplish. It might send someone to the full tutorial, demonstrate expertise, support an affiliate article, introduce a product, answer a recurring question or bring new people into your email audience.
A useful next step is better than a vague “follow for more.”
Repurpose the Video Again
A longer tutorial can produce short clips. A useful clip can be embedded in the original article. Viewer questions can become future posts. A demonstration can become an email topic or social post.
Repurposing works best as a system, not a one-time trick.
The Tool Will Change. The Workflow Is the Asset.
The original version of this article walked through Lumen5 screen by screen. That interface changed, and today’s creators have many more options. The durable strategy is to stop treating every format as a brand-new content assignment.
Start with work you already know is useful. Extract the strongest idea, adapt it for video, add your own experience and give viewers a meaningful next step.
For more on getting additional value from existing work, see Repurposing Gold: How to Repurpose One Blog Post Into Multiple Content Pieces.
I've been loving playing around with Lumen5 – they are a great way to make videos!
I've already done 3-4, but decided I'd make another for the challenge.
Here it is~
That looks great! I know I've made about 5 already, and I have so many ideas for new ones. Love your product by the way!
SO many ideas. I'm a big fan of Lumen5 so far! 😀
And thanks!
I was pleasantly surprised by how easy it was to make the video, especially when I didn't have to spend a lot of time searching for images I could use. I don't mind paying for images but it's nice to have an already licensed to use library available (and music, too!)
Here's my video
Love the video! Good music choice and it made me click through to your blog so well done. I subscribed 🙂
Wow, this is so cool! I've never heard of this but I'm definitely going to check it out to make a video for some of my decluttering posts. I can see it being really helpful for before and after photos. Thanks for a great resource!
You're welcome, it's an amazing site. I was told by the creator that they may add paid features later but the main idea will always be free.
Oh my freaking heck. Kathleen this is THE coolest tool I've found in a LONG time!!!!
I've used Magisto to create quick videos when I don't have "real" video – you just click in your albums and add a bunch of photos and/or video clips, pick a theme and music, and it creates a fun video from them. But you don't get much options at all for editing and stuff.
This is AMAZEBALLS.
I've been playing with it – I haven't created a video yet, because I've halfway made a bunch, and keep getting excited and trying another one, lol.
I'm going to use this to add video to a bunch of stuff!!
Since working is hard for me some days, with the major brain fog, my big goal is to start fixing up old posts regularly. At least 3-4 times a week, pick a post, update if I can, add or update links and stuff, and put it through the share threads. This will be SO much fun to use when updating things!!
I know I was just as excited which is why I wanted to share with everyone. I've been assured that the base options will remain free so I have plans for TONS more.